Falls are one of the leading causes of admission into care settings, so solutions to help people avoid them are vitally important. One such solution is a personal alarm with fall detection capabilities.

These devices use sensors to recognize an unbroken fall. In this blog post, we examine how these sensors function and outline its benefits.
Detecting a fall

Fall detection differs from smartphone apps and smart watches in that it uses sophisticated sensors and algorithms to accurately identify falling motion. These algorithms compare this movement with known patterns from previous falls so as only call for help in genuine emergencies - such as by measuring strength of downward motion, change in air pressure or whether there was post-fall movement.

Once a fall has been detected, alarm systems typically sound or send notifications to emergency contacts or a 24-hour response centre. Many fall detector alarms also include two-way communication so users can call for help manually if unable to trigger their system themselves; some devices even work outside the home and provide peace of mind should you enjoy going out.
Avoiding false alarms

If a person hasn't actually fallen, an alarm should not go off. That is why many fall detection systems employ multiple sensors capable of sensing different forms of movement to ensure only genuine falls are detected by this process, known as sensor fusion.

Avoid false alarms caused by accidental trips, playing with grandchildren, scrubbing floors or reaching under sofas! Many modern systems also come equipped with features to cancel vibration pre-alarms prior to sending an alert notification.

One of the primary challenges associated with fall detection technology is lack of real-life data on elderly people falling, making it challenging to create an accurate model that detects all types of falls among this demographic. Simulation engines that replicate real-world conditions is an effective solution (Deng et al, 2017) allowing researchers to test their models in various scenarios and improve accuracy over time.
Getting help quickly

Accuracy of fall detection alarms depends on many variables; for instance, when moving slowly or braced against something such as a chair or bed it may not set off an alarm. If accidentally set off by mistake however, you can quickly cancel out of it yourself by pressing a button on your pendant/wristband, covering its face with your hand, or pressing its cancel button.

Minutes matter in an emergency situation, which is why pressing the SOS button on your alarm quickly is crucial. A trained nurse will call over two-way speaker immediately upon pressing SOS, assess your condition and arrange emergency services if necessary to come directly to your home.

Sense-iT's personal alarms offer automatic fall detection and are connected to our CareLink monitoring centre in Ireland for 24-7 monitoring. We offer wireless alarms and accessories, along with an Integrated Falls Reduction Programme designed to help professional carers reduce risks associated with falls in residential homes.
Reassurance

Peoplesafe falls alarms utilize advanced sensor fusion to identify falls by comparing wearer movements against an associated pattern of behavior associated with falls. https://familyalert.co.nz/ This allows the alarm to distinguish genuine falls from everyday movement and only trigger an alert if and when someone experiences one.

Participants reported multiple tensions resulting from falls alarm use, including their perception that staff determined when mobilisation occurred, creating an unequal person-environment transaction, as well as alarms discouraging efforts to reduce falls by overrelying on staff response.

Peoplesafe personal alarms utilize smart sensors inside of your pendant that detect when you fall, sending an alert to MePACS emergency response centre. Once at this centre, call centre staff attempt to contact you through its two-way audio capability before dispatching help or notifying family. Receiving immediate help is key as each minute without assistance can increase risk.